Hi! I’m Abby Jayne Spades and I am so blessed to be part of Chi O’s PC’22 at Samford! I wanted to talk a little about what Chi Omega means to me and how impactful it has been on my life. When I was going through recruitment, I had arrived at Samford not really knowing anyone, so I knew I would be building my family here from scratch. I knew Chi Omega was the sisterhood for me after seeing the amount of true fellowship planted here. The Zeta Zeta chapter is full of absolutely incredible women that are not only pushing themselves to be better every day, but also encouraging and uplifting each other in ways I had never seen before. True acts of service and love, from throwing a party and celebrating a sister who is releasing a new song, to sitting at a table with you in the lib while you bawl your eyes out because, even though a boy ripped your heart out and stomped on it, you still have a 5 page essay due at midnight. Looking back on my freshman year, Chi O has taught me so much about how to love others and love them well. I remember being nervous when I first came to Birmingham because I would be far from some of my closest friends and comfort people, and would need to cultivate new relationships like that here. On bid day, looking around at my pledge class and chapter and seeing all these incredible girls that I had never met before, assured me I had not only found comfort people here, but that it was going to be such a blessing to walk through these next four years with them. These women are all so amazing and beautiful in every way! They truly push you to want to be the best version of yourself, and will be your biggest cheerleaders every step of the way!
I have also seen how this sisterhood continues even after college. My mom was a Chi Omega, so I grew up watching so many of her friendships continue even 25 years after graduation. Some of the most impactful women in my life were my moms sisters, pledge trainers, and supervisors, and they all have continued to embody everything that Chi Omega means in serving others and growing together in a genuine, real, and loving community. They are true examples of how Chi O isn’t a club or an extracurricular, but a real sisterhood where women both push and are pushed to better themselves and those around them, as well as serve others to the best of their ability! Needless to say, these girls that I’ve known for less than a year have already been some of the most impactful people in my life, and I am so grateful and proud to know them!
